1Th 5:23-28 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Thess 5:23-28: 5:23-28 Greek and Roman letters ended with a wish for the good health of the recipient. Jewish letters concluded with a peace blessing. Paul closes with a Christian variation on these practices. 5:23 God enables Christians to live a holy life (3:11-13 ). His sanctifying work extends to the spirit and soul and body , the totality of human life (cp. Matt 10:28 ; Mark 12:30 ; 1 Cor 7:34 ).

Summary for 1Thess 5:23-28: 5:23-28 ^a Greek and Roman letters ended with a wish for the good health of the recipient. Jewish letters concluded with a peace blessing. Paul closes with a Christian variation on these practices. 5:23 ^b God enables Christians to live a holy life (3:11-13 ^c). His sanctifying work extends to the spirit and soul and body, the totality of human life (cp. Matt 10:28 ^d; Mark 12:30 ^e; 1 Cor 7:34 ^f).
5:24 ^g God will make this happen: Paul bases his confidence on the faithful character of God (1 Cor 1:9 ^h; 2 Thes 3:3 ⁱ; 2 Tim 2:13 ^j; 1 Jn 1:9 ^k).
5:26 ^l a sacred kiss (see also Rom 16:16 ^m; 1 Cor 16:20 ⁿ; 2 Cor 13:12 ^o; 1 Pet 5:14 ^p): Kissing on the cheek or forehead was a common form of greeting that reflected such sentiments as honor, friendship, and love among family members (Mark 14:44-45 ^q; Luke 7:36-47 ^r; 15:20 ^s; Acts 20:37 ^t).
5:27 ^u read this letter: Public reading of Scripture was practiced in both the synagogue (Luke 4:16 ^v; Acts 13:15 ^w) and the church (1 Tim 4:13 ^x). Similarly, Paul’s letters were to be read aloud to the whole congregation (Col 4:16 ^y).
5:28 ^z Paul improves the customary greeting by adding a blessing of grace at the end of his correspondence (Rom 16:20 ^aa; 1 Cor 16:23 ^ab; Gal 6:18 ^ac; Eph 6:24 ^ad; 2 Thes 3:18 ^ae).